London Design Week was nothing short of dazzling this past week - D A Z Z L I N G! I was able to attend Origin, 100% Design and Decorex but also went over to FOCUS/11 at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour to check out what they had going on too. I missed Tent, but that's okay because there is always next year for that... I must say though that I was honored to have been invited to speak at 100% Design, Decorex, FOCUS and at Anthropologie, too. It was a very busy week for me but the takeaway was that doing it was not only a great courage builder but I was able to make so many new friends and put names with faces from our big online community - which I view as more valuable than anything else. Additionally, each event had loads of interesting design and decorating products, trends, concepts - you name it, that you can't walk away without finding something to catch your eye or sweep you completely away. For me, out of all of the events, the one that spoke loudest and grabbed my heart was the beautifully curated and presented Origin show at Old Spitalfields Market.

My loot: An Abigail Brown bird

My loot: Abigail Brown butterfly brooches

My loot: A neon pink teacup print and a print on fabric by Rachel Eardley

My loot: Jo Gordon wool scarf with big pom poms and striped mittens. Yes, I do spot a bright pink theme!

I've been wanting to attend for years so to be there for the first time felt like a mini dream come true. I went with my friends Sania and Leslie and we met up with Elisa. Walking around together, each of us making beelines to things that dazzled us, turning over items, holding them up, chatting to the makers... I found it such a "feel good" type of afternoon - the inspired meeting the creators, the makers... I am always interested in what friends are drawn towards. For Leslie it was stripes, wool, hot pink, white ceramics, wool patterned buttons and a hot pink tea cup printed onto a pretty piece of floral cloth. She also loved Abigail Brown's work.

Row 1: (L) Sania Pell, Elisa Rathje, Leslie Shewring (R) Claire Brewster, Row 2: (L) Row Pinto (R) Eileen Gatt.

For Sania it was anything gray, natural and tactile. She also seemed to be interested in shots of mustard though she was quite reserved while browsing, I suspected she was lost in her thoughts since a pro stylist like Sania combs such markets for products to mentally bookmark to buy or call in for future work.

Row 1: (L) Shan Annabelle Valla (R) Sarah Morpeth, Row 2: (L) Sarah Morpeth (R) Ali Nash

After that show I was convinced that I need to return each year to peruse Origin because it was incredibly inspiring to me - but I wouldn't want to go alone... Being with my friends made it so much nicer. I took some snaps with my iPhone camera of a few makers who caught my eye and thought I'd quickly share them with you. I hope you've liked seeing them. Please click on the links to learn more.

Row 1: (L) Abigail Brown (R) Rachel Eardley, Row 2: (L) Rachel Eardley (R) Origin signage

Row 1: (L) Esther Coombs (R) Ella Robinson, Row 2: (L) Abigail Brown (R) Abigail Brown, Row 3: (L) Shan Annabelle Valla (R) Shan Annabelle Valla.

Thank you ladies for a lovely afternoon at Origin. Until next year, cheers!

(images: holly becker for decor8)